Learning the words

-Ancilla College among institutions with Spanish lessons for staff.

-Ancilla College among institutions with Spanish lessons for staff.

February 14, 2007|AMANDA PETRUCELLI Tribune Correspondent

It will cost Ancilla College $1,350 every 12 weeks to teach its staff members the basics, like "please" and "thank you." That's "por favor" and "gracias" -- not the English version. Ron May, who began his tenure as Ancilla president this summer, decided that a free, volunteer Spanish class for his staff should be among the first programs he implemented. "Our motivation is to get our staff at least at a conversational level of Spanish so they can communicate with the people they are serving," said the president of the 500-student institution in rural Marshall County. "For me, it was a no-brainer," he said. Marisa Cortés, education coordinator from Heart and Hands Inc., began the first lesson Jan. 31 to a full classroom of Ancilla staff, each there for his or her own reasons. This semester, taking Cortés' class on paid company time is Ancilla College soccer coach James Drzewiecki. He said he hopes the class will help him in recruitment efforts. "We're recruiting for our first year, and we do anticipate a lot of bilingual people," he said. "I think it's just a great opportunity for us." May said that in recruiting new students, staff have found the potential student may speak English, but the parents do not. To assist these parents in filling out forms, such as those for financial aid, May said being able to communicate better to the parents would really help. Ancilla College assistant professor of communication Patrick Merle, whose native language is French, said he is working to begin a foreign exchange student program there and hopes taking the class will help foster program growth. Rebecca Budzinski is a student tutor at the college. "By understanding the mechanics of the language, I am better able to help (students) with (their) study skills," she said. Tara Minix, assistant director of admissions and international student adviser, said she is taking the class because she has noticed a more diverse population growing in Marshall County and surrounding areas. She said she would like the college population to mimic that. Hearts and Hands director Rebecca Griffy said that according to the last census, Plymouth's Latino population is 15 percent. But she knows the real number is higher, factoring in the undocumented. "I would suspect around 23 to 28 percent," she said. Interestingly, 11 percent of Plymouth's total population is from one small village in Mexico: Santiago Capitiro, Guanajuato, Griffy said. Cortés said she is inspired to teach Spanish at various Marshall County businesses because it will help bring the community together and foster better understanding between native and non-native English speakers.